A challenge to Ray Mallon to pull out of Middlesbrough's elected mayoral race has been issued by the Liberal Democrat contender for the job.

Joe Michna says Mr Mallon is not a resident of Middlesbrough. But Mr Mallon, the former head of Middlesbrough CID, says he sleeps in Stockton but lives in Middlesbrough.

Cllr Michna said: "Although legally he may qualify to stand because he has apparently spent the last 12 months working in Middlesbrough, I do not think that any person who does not live in our town should be standing for election as the mayor.

"This election is still very much a 'local election' and the only people who should be standing for election should be people who live in the town."

But Mr Mallon said: "Most people are aware that I sleep in Stockton and live in Middlesbrough. I am in Middlesbrough most of the time and I know the town very well.

"On occasions when I speak to journalists I can be taken out of context and what I have said in the past is that I could have a much easier life working for a business rather than being the elected mayor of Middlesbrough which will be both demanding and challenging."

He said he owed the Middlesbrough public a great deal. That was the main reason he would stand.

"I want to give the public the chance and the opportunity for change. They will decide my fate.

"I can understand why Cllr Michna would want to see the back of me because there would be less opposition but that would not suit the democratic process," he said.